Means for determining physical characteristics of liquids



April 1941- c. w. THORNHlLL. 2,238,758

MEANS FOR DETERMINING PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTiCS OF LIQUIDS Filed Dec. 20, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet l cw. Rani/ April 15, 1941. c. w, THoRflHlLL 2,238,758

MEANS FOR DETERMINING PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LIQUIDS Filed Dec. 20, 1937 4 She ets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR C. w. THORN ILL BY FIG. N A'r'rol'amavs April 15, 1941. Q w" THORNHILL 2,238,758

MEANS FOR DETERMINING PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LIQUIDS Filed Dec. 20, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR C. W. 7 /0/?NHILL TTO'RNEYSH April 15, 1941- c. w. THORNHILL MEANS FOR DETERMINING PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LIQUIDS Filed Dec. 20, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 m m T N M Wm: H J A W w T w .C. m :l

Patented Apr. 15, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT 7 OFFICE MEANS FOR. DETERMINING FHYSICAL' CHARACTERISTICS or LIQUIDS Charles w. Thornhill, Houston, Tex. Application December 20, 1937, Serial 151 180,709

8 Claims.v (Cl. 265-2) This invention relates to apparatus fordetermining the physical characteristics of liquids and more particularly to continuously operating ap-1- paratus for automatically and periodically deter mining both the relative viecosity of a liquid and the weight of a given volume thereof.

weight of samples of a liquid continuously pass-1 ing through the same.

Another. object is to devise apparatus of this character which embodies a chart or sheet on which a record of the relative viscosity and weight of successive samples is automatically mader- 1 .A further object is to provide apparatus of this character which shall besimple in construction and positivepaccurate and efiicient in operation. 1 f e In order that the invention may 'be re'adily understood, referenceis had to the accompanying drawingsforming part of and in which- 1 1 1 1 Fig. 1 is a verticalsection through myimproved this specification,

l The invention has special utility when applied 1 1 i2, likewise shownas of conical shape. This receptacle I2 is supported by and pivotally con-" viscosimeter, parts being shown in elevation and 1 some of the mechanism being omitted;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the time-controlled mechanism which I employ for automatically starting, stopping and operating my improved viscosimeter, parts being broken away and parts being shown in section,1 and other parts being omitted; A

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing some of the details illustrated in Fig. 2;

graph produced by my improved apparatus; 1

Figs. 5 and 6 are elevations on an enlarged scale showing two of the cams and associated parts which areoperated by the time controlled 1mechanism illustrated in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a somewhat modified arrangement. Referring to the drawings in detail, and first moreparticularly to Fig. 1, my improved appara- 1 1 Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the charter,

may escape.

tus is enclosed in a suitable casing at th top oi which is an inlet pipe I through which the liquid to be testedis introduced: This pipe' discharges into a hopper 2 provided with an overflow 3, and below this overflow is a deflector "I associated with an opening 6 lathe side of the casing, through which openingthe excess liquid Pivotally connected to the bottom or discharge end of the hopper 2 as by means of a pivot '5, 1s adischarge spout 4which is capable "of occupying either one of two positions as shown in full and dotted lines. position, the liquid issuing from the hopper and spout is discharged down upon thedeflector l and out through the opening 6, while, when it is shifted to full'line position, the material from the spout 4 is directed into a measuring vessel 8 mounted below the same. ally supported as at 9, and is provided near its top with an overflowor spillway 8a, so positioned that the liquid flowing over the same falls upon and is discharged" through the the deflector I opening 6.

7 When filled to the overflow, the measuring vessel 8, is tilted about its pivot 9, as hereinafter de scribed,-,and its contents dumped into a funnelshaped receptacle [0, having at its lower-end a restricted discharge. passage I l.'1

Disposed immediately below this discharge passage II is a second, container or receptacle nectedas at l3 and I! with twolevers I4 and l 8, pivoted at I5, and I 9 respectively; and providedat the r opposite endswith counterweights i6 and 20 respectively. Thus this receptacle l2 floats on the levers I4 and1l8, the counterweights I6 and 20 being of such value as to maintainthe levers normally in substantially horizontal position as shown.

, The lower end of the receptacle I2 is adapted.

to be closed by a valve 2| carried by a lever 22. p voted at 23 to an arm projecting from the lever I8. The opposite end of the lever 22 is connected by a wire or cable 24 ,with one end of a lever 25- rigidly secured to a shaft 25. It will be noted that the wire or cable 24 lies substantially in the; plane of the pivot l9, andthus an upward pull onthis wire or cable, such as is' necessary to close the valve 2l,has no tendency to swing the lever [8 upon the pivot I 9 A bracket or stop 21 projects downwardly fromthe lever [8 near its pivot to limit the movement of the valve, 2| when re-.

leased.

When in the dotted line This vessel 8 is-pivotthat when the lever I8 moves downwardly, the

stylus 33 is swung upon its pivotso that itsupper 7 end moves to the right.

Disposed behind or beneath the. stylus 33 is a chart or record sheet 35 shown in the form of an elongated strip supported at its-,ends on rollers 36 and 31. As hereinafter described, the roller 35 is driven so that the sheet 35 travels upwardly in the direction. of the arrow at a uniform rate. A dashpot 38' is preferably provided in order to damp the movements of the lever I8.

. In connection with the general organization of parts shown in Fig. l, I employ the time controlled mechanism illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, 5, and 6. Referring to Fig. 2 39 designates a timing device such as an ordinary clock mechanism, and thisdrives at relatively slow speed a cam 40. A lever,4|'pivoted at 42 is pressed by a spring 43 against the periphery of this cam, and at the opposite end of the lever 4| are a pair of spaced pallets 44, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described. 7

Power for operating the time controlled mechanism is furnished by a heavy coiled spring 45 wound around a shaft. 41 and enclosed within a housing 46, one end of the spring being secured .to the shaft and the other end to the housing.

This housing is-provided with gear teeth 48 cooperating with a pinion 49 mounted on a shaft 50 to whiohis secured a crank handle 5|, by

' means of which thespring may bewound.

rigidly secured to the roller 35 which drives the record sheet 35 (seeFig. 1). A fly comprising gears-63, 64, and avane 85 are connected with the shaft to retard the movement thereof.

Rigid with the shaft 4! is a gear 66, meshing with a pinion 61 on a shaft 68 carrying a cam 69, more clearly shown in Fig. 3. A lever I0 is pivoted at H and is held against the cam 59 by means of a spring "I2, 'theopposite end of said lever carrying a pair of spaced pallets 13. A pin I4 set into a lever I5, rigidly mounted on the shaft 60 is adapted to engage these pallets. Also secured to the shaft 88 is a gear I5 from which projects a pin 'II adapted to be engaged by the pallets 44. The gear I6 meshes through gears 82, 83, and 84 with another fly comprising the gears 85 and 86 and the vane 81 in order to control and retard the speed of the-shaft 88.

Through bevel gears I8 the shaft 58 drives 'another shaft I9 on which are rigidly mounted a pair of cams,80 and 8I,'the:shape of which is clearly shown in'Figs. 5 and 6.

Referring to these latter figures, the cam 80 this cam by means of a spring 9|. The oppositeend of this lever is bifurcated as shown at 92 and engages over a bar 93 secured to the pivoted spout 4 (see Fig. 1). As the endof the lever 89 rides into and out of the notch 88 it will be apparent that the spout will be rocked on its pivot and shifted from one position-to the other.

The other cam 8| has a projecting portion 94, and a lever 95 pivoted at '96 is urged by a spring 91 into engagement with the periphery of this cam. At the upper end of this lever is a triangular frame 98 in which is pivotally mountedv a latch 99, which latch is yieldingly held in its central position by 'means of a pair of springs I00.

To the pivoted measuring vessel 8 (see Fig. l) is rigidly secured as shown in Fig. 5, a bracket |0| having an arcuate slot I02, concentric with the pivot 9, this slot having locking notches I03 and I04 at its opposite ends. The latch99 is adapted to engage these notches. It is shown in Fig. 5 as in engagement with thenotch I03, thus locking the measuring vessel 8 in its normal or upright position. As the lever' 95 rides off of the projection 94 of the cam 8|, the latch 99 will be swung tolthe right out of engagement with the notch I 03, thus permitting the vessel 8 to tilt and dump, and-the latch will then engage in the notch I04, locking the vessel in dumped position until, by further movement of the cam, the parts are again restored. In this connection it maybe explained that a counterweight 9a is secured to the bottom of the vessel 8 at one side of the pivot as shown in Fig. 1., This counterweight normally tends to move the vessel to the position shown in full lines. When, however, the vessel is filled with liquid, it tends, owing to its special shape, to tilt toward the right, the weight of the liquid then overbalancing the counterweight 9a. After the liquid has been dumped, however,. and the latch 99 released fromthe notch |04,the counterweight 9a serves to return the vessel. its normal position.

An arm I05 projects from the bracket I 0| and is connected by means of a wire or cable I08-to a lever |0I,- likewise rigidly secured to the shaft 26, a tension spring I08 preferably being interposed in this cable to act as a cushion. It will thus be clear that when the vessel 8 tilts on its pivot, an upward pull is exerted on the cable I06, whichthrough the lever I01, shaft 28, and lever 25, exerts a similar upward pull on the cable -24 and thus closes the valve 2| (see Fig. 1).

The general operation-of the apparatus will now be briefly described. v

The liquid to be tested being constantly fed into the pipe I and the clock mechanism 39 running continuously, the cam 40 will periodically rock the lever 4| on its pivot so as'to release the pin from one of the pallets 44. The shaft 68 thereupon under the influence of the spring 45 begins to turn, thus operating the cams and 8|. The lever 89 had been resting in the notch 88 of this cam, and when the cam starts up, this lever moves to the high part of the cam, thus swinging the spout 4 to its left hand'or dotted line position in which it directs the stream of liquid onto the deflector 1. After a short interval, during which the liquid in the vessel 8 settles to the level of the overflow, thus accurately measuring a predetermined volume, the lever rides ofi of the high part of the cam 94- and disengages the latch 99 from the notch I03, releasing the vessel 8 and permitting it to tilt into" dotted line position as shown in Fig. 1. When thus tilted, its contents are dumped into the receptacle I0.

Just prior to the tilting of the vessel 3,'the cam 69 swings the lever I about its pivotand disengages the pin 14 from one of the pallets I3,

thuspermitting the spring 45 to drive the roller '36 and cause the rec rd sheet 35 to travel at a uniformrate.

The liquid flows from the receptacle I0 thr0ugh the restricted discharge opening I I at practically a uniform rate into the receptacle I2, the valve 2I'meanwhile having been closed as above described by the tilting of the vessel 8. As soon as the liquid begins to accumulate in the receptacle 1 I2, its weight, acting upon the lever I8, begins to move the stylus 33 toward the'right. In view .of the fact that the record sheet 35 is traveling at constant speed, and in view of the further fact that the liquid is flowing into the receptacle I2 at a practicallyuniform rate, theline or graph pro- .duced upon the record sheet 35 will be substantiallyastraight line b, inclined to the direction of movement of therecord sheet. It will be seen that the distance the sheet travels during the tracing of this lineb depends upon the relative speeds of movementof the record sheet and of the stylus. The speedof the. record sheet being constant, the distance the sheet will travel during the flow through the dischargepassage I I depends upon therate at which the liquid flows through this discharge passage and into the receptacle. As i is well known this rate offiow varies withthe viscosity of the liquid. Hence, the distance traveled by the sheet during thetracing of the line b in Fig. 4 is an indication of the relative viscosity of the liquid expressedin seconds or other units of time required for a predetermined volume to pass through a known opening. I As the weight of the receptacle I2 increases, .due to the progressive accumulation of the liquid 1 therein, the stylus 33 moves further and further to the right. When, however, all of the liquid dumped into the receptacle I0 has flowed out dumped into the receptacle, and as the record sheet continues to travelthe stylus, when in this weight indicating position, will'trace a straight After the cams 80 and 8| have made a complete revolutiomthe pin 11 again engages one of the through the passage I I, there is no further change z in weight of the contents of the'receptacle I2, and 'the stylus remains stationary. The final displacement of the stylus laterally of the record sheet is therefore an indication of the total weight of the given volume of liquid which was pallets 44 and stops the further rotation of the v gear 16 and associated mechanism. Meanwhile,

however, the lever 89 has again dropped into the notch 38 to, return the spout 4 to its full line position and the lever 95 has again ridden up upon the projection 94 and has released the latch 99 from the notch I04, thus permitting the counterweight 9a to return the vessel 8 to horizontal position. As it moves to. this position it releases the tension on cableIDi, and this in turn, through lever 25 andcable 24, permits the lever 22 and valve 2| to drop, as shown in Fig. 1, thus discharging the contents of the receptacle I2 through the discharge conduit 28. As the liquid runs out ofthe receptacle I2, it grows progressively lighter and the counterweight 20 tends to lift the right hand end of the lever I 8, thus permittingthe stylus 33 to swing back toward the left.

Finally, after the arm I5 has made a complete.

v contains wires I2I andrevolution, the pin I4 again engages onefot the pallets I3 and is stopped thereby. The record sheet thereupon comes to rest and remains stationary until the cycle is repeated by the clock mechanism 39.

Referring toFig. 4, I have illustrated a section of the graph or chart produced by the recording mechanism shown in Fig. 1. In this graph the straight portiona of the curve is produced after the sheet has begun to run but before any liquid has flowed into the receptacle. The inclined portion b of .the graph is thep'art which'isprp duced while the liquid is running out of the receptacle I0 and into the receptacle I2, and the distance traveled by the sheet.during the tracing of this part of the line is proportional to the rate of flow, that is to say, to the viscosity of the liquid. The parallel portion 0 of the linerepresents the part which is traced after the stylus has moved to its right hand limit and come to rest. The lateral displacement of this part of the line from the left hand margin of the chart indicates the weight of the measured volume of liquid and provides a means for determining the density of the liquid. The portion d of the graph indicates the part that is produced after the valve 2| is opened and the stylus swings back to normal position. In Fig. 7 I have shown a slightly modified arrangement which may be successfully used in connection with certain types of liquids. In this figure, instead of the short swinging spout 4 and measuring vessel 8, I employ a long spout or conduit I09 which, when swung to full line position by means of the spring I09 is adapted to deliver the liquid into a receptacle IIO, having at its lower end a restricted discharge passage III normally closed by means of a valve I,I3. The receptacle I I0 is pivotally supported at I I2 on the lever I8 as before- [The valve H3 is carried by a stem II, the upper end of which is secured to the plunger of a solenoid H5. The receptacle IIO has an overflow or spillway IIIIa, sothat an accurate measurement of its contents may be made.

'Adjacent the swinging spout I 09 is another solenoid IIB, the plunger of which carries a rod adapted to push against the side of the spout I09 and swing it to the left. I

III designates an automatic. time switch to which current is fed from a suitable source by a lead II8, the'other lead II9 being grounded to the frame of the apparatus. A cable I20 extends from the switch mechanism III and this cable I22 leading respectively to one end'of the windings of solenoids H5 and H6, the other ends of these windings being grounded to the frame.

The timing device in the switch mechanism II! is such that after the spout I09 has been pushed over to dotted line position by the solenoid I I6, and a short interval allowed for the liquid in the receptacle IIO to settle to the level of the overflow, the solenoid H5 is energized so.

as to open the valve H3 and permit the liquid to flow out of the receptacle IIO.

In the graph made bythis form of the invention, the first inclined portion e of the curve intraveled by the sheet during the tracing of this portion 9 of the curve is therefore dependent upon the rate of flow of the liquid through this passage, and consequently serves to indicate its viscosity. 7

'This form of the invention can be used only with non-settling and non-jelling liquids since settling or jelling would interfere with the operation of the valve H3. In the first described embodiment of the invention, however, settling and jelling are broken up when the measuring vessel 8 is dumped.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for determining the relative viscosity of liquids comprising a receptacle into which a predetermined volume of the liquid to be tested is deposited, said receptacle having a restricted discharge passage, and means for indicating both the total weight of said predetermined'volume, and the rate of flow of such volume from said receptacle through said passage.

2. Apparatus for determining the relative viscosity of liquids comprising a receptacle into which a predetermined volume of the liquid to be tested is deposited, said receptacle having a restricted discharge passage, a singlechart, and means for indicating on said chart both the total weight of said predetermined volume, and the rate of flow of such volume from said receptacle through said passage.

3. Apparatus for determining the relative viscosity of liquids comprising a receptacle into which theliquid to be tested is fed, said receptacle having a restricted discharge passage, a

movable chart and time controlled means for driving the same, a stylus for recording n said chart, and means responsive tothe total weight of the liquid which at any given instant has escaped through said passage, for controlling the position of said stylus.

4. Apparatus of the class described comprising a movable spout through which the liquid to be tested flows continuously, a measuring receptacle, a second receptacle having a restricted discharge passage, and time controlled means for periodically first so moving said spout as to direct the stream of liquid into said measuring receptacle for a-predetermined interval. to fill it; then moving said spout so as to direct the stream away from said measuring receptacle; and subsequently dumping the measured quantity of liquid from said measuring receptacle into said second receptacle having a restricted discharge passage.

5. Apparatus of the class described comprising a' movable spout through which the liquid to be tested flows continuously, a measuring receptacle, means having a restricted passage, time controlled means for periodically first shifting said spout so as to direct the stream of liquid for a predetermined interval into said measuring re, ceptacle, to fill it, and then discharging, said measured quantity of liquid through said restricted passage, and recording means for recording the rate at which it flows through said restricted passage.

6. Apparatus of the class described comprising a pipe through which the liquid to be tested flows continuously, means having a restricted passage, and time controlled means for periodically separating out a measured sample of said liquid, and causing it to flow through said restricted passage, and means for recording both the rate f flow through said restricted passage and total weight of each successive sample.

7. In a viscosimeter, a member having a restricted passage for a material to be tested, means for indicating the rate of flow through said passage comprising a weight indicating device including an indicator element, a balanced pivoted lever connected with said element, a re- 8. In a viscosimeter,a member having a restrictejd passage for a material to be tested, means for indicating the rate of flow through said passage comprising a weight indicating device including an indicator element, a balanced pivoted lever connected with said element, a re ceptacle supported on said lever, anoutlet valve at the bottom of said receptacle carried by a second lever pivoted on said first lever, and means for operating said second lever to close said valve without applying any unbalancing force to said,

first lever.

CHARLES W. THORNI-IILL. 

